Interested in learning more about property mortgages in Canada? Look no further!
Latest News
Weekly mortgage digest: Which big banks just dropped fixed rates? + MORE Jul 11th
After a spike in bond yields last week prompted some mortgage lenders to increase certain rates, fixed mortgage rates are again trending downward..... More »
5 surprises to avoid when switching mortgages before your term ends + MORE Jul 31st
These days, being a home owner with a mortgage can feel like you’ve ordered the chicken dinner before realizing there was a steak special. You orchestrate a last-minute switch before your meal arrives, and it’s only once your overcooked steak is served that you know you’ve made a mistake.
.... More »
Q1 Earnings Mortgage Morsels: TD + MORE Mar 11th
TD Bank kicked off the first quarter with a 13% increase in net income, while the bank's U.S. division saw a 27% leap in earnings growth..... More »
Fixed-Rate Increases Costing Today’s Homebuyers Over $10,000 More in Interest + MORE Nov 13th
Fixed mortgage rates have been climbing steadily since September. But by how much at what cost for new homebuyers?.... More »
Canada’s financial consumer watchdog unveils guidelines to support at-risk mortgage borrowers Jul 6th
The country's financial consumer watchdog today unveiled new guidelines urging financial institutions to provide support to mortgage holders who are facing "severe financial stress" and are at-risk of default..... More »
Five Tips to Increase Your Credit Score Quickly
– canadianmortgagetrends.com
In order to qualify for certain mortgage and loan products, a minimum credit score is essential. Even if your score is sufficient to qualify, you might find the rates being offered will be lower than if you had a higher score. Having worked with thousands of personal credit histories over the years, we have developed some strategies that sometimes give you that much needed quick score boost—sort of like jumper cables for credit! Here are a few scenarios this might […]
How much do you save with bi-weekly payments?
– canadamortgagenews.ca
For years, we’ve been told to pay our mortgage bi-weekly. Magically, it will pay your mortgage off faster. Hmm, let’s put that to the test.
(SPOILER ALERT!) Around 10 years ago, I wrote an article showing some simple but effective math to explain this. I’m constantly getting emails from my readers asking me what they should do. Obviously, a topic worth taking another look at.
Let me also say, there is merit to paying bi-weekly… I’ll explain further on.
HISTORY OF BI-WEEKLY PAYMENTS
Back in the mid-’90s, there was a huge marketing blitz by the Big Banks that promoted making bi-weekly payments instead of the traditional monthly payments. The sales pitch was that you could save huge amounts of money and pay your mortgage off much faster, shaving 4 or 5 years off your amortization. Sound familiar? While offering some benefit, BI-WEEKLY PAYMENTS DON’T SAVE AS MUCH AS YOU MIGHT THINK!
And I’ll prove it… Here are the straight facts!
EXAMPLE 1…
Tips for Paying Off Credit Card Debt
– ratesupermarket.ca
Credit card bills got you down? That’s the trouble with paying with plastic. It is easy to spend, but not quite as easy to pay off the debt you accrue – especially if you are only paying the minimum each month. Carrying too much credit card debt can make it harder to get a mortgage loan for a house or finance a car should you need to. It can also be enormously stressful if you fall behind and end up in the crosshairs of a collection agency.
So, before you get any deeper in debt, it is time to get your financial house in order and develop a plan for paying off your credit card debt. Whether it’s working to bring in more income, budgeting, credit counselling, or a debt-consolidation loan, resources are available to help ease some of that burden.
Stop Using Your Credit Cards Immediately
If you are serious about paying off your credit card debt, then you better stop using them. Otherwise, you continue to add to the debt you are trying to pay off. Take them out of your purse or wallet, lock them away, or shred them if necessary…
